General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5249 aims to amend the charter of the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority to facilitate the potential acquisition of a water company, specifically the Aquarion Water Company. Key changes include the establishment of the "Aquarion Water Authority" as a public corporation with an eleven-member board, consisting of six members from the Aquarion Regional Water District and five from the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority. The bill stipulates that no appointments to the authority or the Aquarion representative policy board can occur until the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority approves the acquisition, ensuring that the governance structure is clear and compliant with regulatory requirements.

The bill also introduces new provisions regarding the authority's powers, allowing it to acquire stock, assets, and franchises of existing water or wastewater companies while exempting these actions from certain general statutes. It clarifies that the authority must adhere to local zoning laws, although its water supply and wastewater facilities are permitted across all zoning districts. Notably, the bill includes several insertions to current law, such as adding sections to Sec. 5(b) and amending sections 37(b), 38, 44, and 62 from previous legislation, while removing the phrase "of this act" to streamline the language. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the operational capabilities of the authority while ensuring compliance with local regulations.